Posts Tagged ‘Sin

Some friends of mine have been visiting regularly with a couple of sister missionaries from the LDS Church. They got onto the topic of sin and my friends pointed to Luke 12:22 and shared how worry is a sin. (The LDS Bible footnotes this verse by saying that the phrase “take no thought” means “don’t worry”.) One of the sisters replied that if worry was a sin, she was in big trouble!

I knew Mormonism didn’t talk much about worry but I never really explored that more. So I checked the manual True to the Faith which lists many topics. Not listed. Same result with their Bible Dictionary. Interestingly the Topical Guide said to see “fearful” – which gives it a somewhat different connotation. I then went to lds.org and typed in the question, “Is worry a sin?” Some results came up but none of them pertained to the question. In other words, I couldn’t find any LDS source that labeled worry a sin.

But it is. Just like Jesus told us not to do many other things, he told us not to worry. And when you stop and think about it, it is quite apparent why worry is sinful. It exhibits lack of trust. As someone once said, worry is a form of atheism. Whenever you worry, you are calling God less than trustworthy.

But let’s go back to what the sister said. “If worry is a sin, she is in big trouble.” That’s absolutely correct. In God’s sight, worry is as damnable a sin as any other – each and every sin, regardless of how we view it, is a capital crime. There are no misdemeanors in God’s set of laws. Neither are there simple felonies. Each and every sin is a capital crime. “For whosever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) One sin –regardless of what it is – makes us “guilty of all”.

And that is why we can do nothing to earn our acquittal. Because we can’t keep ourselves from sinning. We concentrate on not worrying only to find ourselves falling into pride, or jealousy, or anger or what have you. Trying to keep ourselves from sinning is like playing a game of whack a mole on a football field! When we whack one sin, another pops up – and then another and another . . . There is no way that we can even begin to keep ourselves from sinning.

That’s devastating news because sin is so serious. And God wants us to feel devastated by our sins. Because then, and only then, will we realize how desperately we need somebody to save us. Before we can truly see our Savior, we need to clearly see our sins. And that is why Mormonism’s tendency to not call sin a sin is so dangerous. (Another example of that is the explanation that Peter never sinned when he denied knowing Jesus since Jesus earlier had told his disciples to tell no man who he was!) The less you see the extent and seriousness of your sins, the less desperate you are for a Savior.

Worrying is a big deal. As is jealousy, pride, selfishness, lust, greed, anger, laziness, harmful words, and a boatload of other things. The only thing that can atone for them is the pure, unadulterated blood of Jesus. To him be all praise and glory.

One of the pamphlets LDS missionaries hand out is entitled, “The Plan of Salvation”. As it title indicates, it summarizes Mormonism’s plan of salvation. Interestingly, when it deals with eternity, it only mentions the LDS three kingdoms of glory. There is no mention of hell or outer darkness. Rather it states: “After you are judged, you will live in a state of glory. Because everyone’s works and desires vary, heaven includes different kingdoms, or degrees of glory.” (p.14)

Note, as that states, the kingdoms are all part of heaven. With that in mind listen to whom, according to Mormonism, inhabits the telestial kingdom, the lowest kingdom in heaven. “Those who continue in their sins and do not repent will receive a place in the telestial kingdom.”

Did you catch that? People who continue in their sins – people who don’t repent – will be in heaven! By making that claim and then by reinforcing it with no mention whatsoever of hell, this pamphlet removes all urgency to believe in Jesus. Instead it flatly says to all who read it: “After you are judged, you will live in a state of glory.” According to this pamphlet, which is designed to introduce Mormonism’s plan of salvation to interested people, sin has no eternal consequences.

What a deadly message that is. That is far deadlier than telling someone that arsenic won’t kill them or that cancer isn’t serious. Think of the lawsuits that would fly if a doctor would be so foolish to make such claims.

But arsenic and cancer can only kill people physically. Sin kills people eternally. Any and all sin. Jesus made this point when he said, “but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Mt. 5:22) Because sin can result in people suffering the eternal fires of hell, it is far, far worse to diminish sin’s consequences than it is to diminish the effects of poison or cancer.

And if you diminish sin’s effect, then you greatly lessen people’s desire to be saved. Again think of poison. If you thought it would only make you mildly sick, you wouldn’t be desperate to receive an antidote. So also with sin. If, no matter what, “you will live in a state of glory”, why be so concerned about Jesus? As one LDS missionary recently told one of my friends, going to the telestial kingdom is like being invited to a beach party instead of a formal dinner. What’s so bad about that?

The sobering truth is that there are two sides to eternity: heaven and hell. Even more sobering is the fact that there will be many people who will spend their eternity in hell. “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” (Matthew 7:13) Jesus is clear. We all won’t live in a state of glory. That’s difficult to hear. But that’s essential to know.

There is only one way to escape sin’s eternal consequences. And that is by fleeing to Jesus and trusting only in what he has done. Friends, see the seriousness of sin – all sin. And then abandon all trust in what you do and trust only in what he has done for you. Then, and only then, will you live in a state of glory for all eternity.

The Not Even Once Club is the title of a new children’s book published and promoted by Deseret Books. It is written by Wendy Nelson, wife of one of the 12 apostles of the LDS Church. The cover sleeve states that she was a professor of marriage and family therapy for 25 years. In addition, she has held a number of prominent positions in the LDS Church including chairing the BYU Women’s Conference. In other words, she is a highly credentialed LDS author.

So what is this book about? The cover sleeve says: “The Not Even Once Club is an adorable and appealing way to engage children in a story that will help them choose for themselves to keep the commandments and to never break them. Not even once.” Really???? Yes, that is really what it is about.

One of the most tragic of its many fatal flaws is the failure of the LDS Church to understand the main reason why God gave us the commandments. “By the law is the knowledge of sin”. The commandments are God’s tool to show us our sins! He knows that we need to see our sinfulness before we will see our need for a Savior. A man doesn’t yell for help until he realizes he’s drowning. Likewise people don’t yell for a Savior until they see they are drowning in sin. The commandments show us how much we sin – they show us that we are drowning in sin. The last thing the Lord intended when he gave the commandments was for people to create “Not Even Once Clubs”.

The Not Even Once Club is tragically true to its name in one way. Not once is Jesus or God mentioned. That probably shouldn’t be surprising seeing that its whole premise is that children can keep the commandments perfectly. It’s not surprising but it is sad.

I can see this book becoming very popular. It is attractively done: very colorful and well-illustrated. It is written by a prominent Mormon. You can download free posters that reinforce its message. I can envision those posters hanging in many a child’s room. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear about “Not Even Once Clubs” springing up in LDS neighborhoods.

But just stop and think about the effect that all this can have on the 3 to 7 year old children that this book is intended for. It could easily implant and reinforce the possibility of perfectionism and all its attendant pressures and problems. Along with that it could produce a large self-righteous streak that will grow stronger and stronger as the children grow up. Or else it could drive children to despair when they recognize that they sinned and broke the promise of the “Not Even Once Club”.

Already with small children, it is so much better to honestly talk about how they sin and their need for a Savior. Already with small children, it is so much better to focus them on the fact that Jesus not even once sinned – and that he freely gives them his perfection. Already with small children, it is vital to focus them on how Jesus has cleansed them from their sins rather than encouraging them to think that they can remain clean themselves. Jesus, and not themselves, is what children also need to focus on. It’s all about Jesus.

In 1 Chronicles 13 there is an account that disturbs many people. King David is bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem after it had been neglected during the reign of Saul. While they were transporting it, we read: “And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. (v. 9-10)

Most think that God dealt way too harshly with Uzza. After all, he was trying to do the right thing and save the Ark from getting damaged. But God had stated very plainly in the law that nobody was to touch the Ark. In fact, just having it on the cart was not in accordance with his law. He made it very clear that poles were to be slide through rings on the side of the Ark and carried with them.

Even with that background, many still charge God with over-reacting. Putting a man to death for trying to keep the Ark from falling – really?

A much better reaction is to pause and take to heart God’s message. It is a message he wants us to hear seeing that he saw fit to have it recorded in Scripture for all time. And his message is simple. It is an extremely serious thing not to follow his commands to the letter! He’s God and his word is not up for debate. Ignoring it, downplaying it, treating it casually is not something that he ignores or treats casually. Not obeying his commands – sinning – is serious.

That is something we all need to hear – and to hear often. God isn’t laughing about those sins that we might think are funny. He doesn’t regard any lies as little while ones. He doesn’t view as optional our loving one another or our taking everything to him in prayer. No, those and many other things are what he has commanded us to do. And, as this story illustrates, there are consequences, terrible consequences, for all forms of disobedience. Sin, all sin, makes God’s blood boil. He sees it as spitting in his face.

That is something we all need to hear – and to hear often. Because only then will we realize how desperately we need mercy – and help. And thank God that, in spite of how much sin angers him, he had mercy on us. Jesus stood in the breach for us. Not only did he suffer God’s awesome wrath over our sins, but he also rendered his Father perfect obedience for us. Jesus is the answer – the only answer to our sinfulness.

Sin is deadly serious. God’s striking Uzza dead shows that. But if the Israelite’s not carrying the Ark angered God, think of how much more angry he is when people feel that they can, in any way, contribute to their having eternal life. That is an affront to God. That is telling him his gift of eternal life wasn’t good enough. That’s saying Jesus didn’t do it all. And that, my friends, is the most deadly sin of all.

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)

That is the title of a talk given by the LDS living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, at last April’s General Conference. He bases it on D&C 93:26-28 which he quotes. “And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth (God’s) commandments receiveth truth and light, and knoweth all things.” Commenting on these verses he states, “A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide – even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of God” (Ensign, May, 2013, p. 89).

Later in the article he expands on this and applies obedience to salvation. Just two more quotes. “All prophets, ancient and modern, have known that obedience is essential to our salvation.” (p. 90) Finally, quoting President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The happiness of the Latter-day Saints, the progress of the Latter-day Saints, the prosperity of the Latter-day Saints, and the eternal salvation and exaltation of this people lie in walking in obedience to the counsels of God.” (p. 90) According to Mormonism all good things, including living with Heavenly Father, hinges on a person’s obedience.

Surprisingly the Bible agrees – with one huge difference. Obedience is essential for salvation – but not our obedience! “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) In order to save us, the one man, Jesus, had to be perfectly obedient. He had to keep every commandment perfectly every moment of every day. He had to do that because we need to be perfect to be acceptable to God and perfection is more than just the absence of sin. It is also the presence of all righteousness. In other words, in order to save us Jesus not only had to cleanse us from all sin but also cover us with all righteousness.

And that is what he did! He was perfectly obedient for us. Throughout his entire life he was weaving the wonderful robe of righteousness which he now drapes over us through faith. In a way, we can say that Jesus sacrificed his life twice for us. Once by living his life for us (and think of how difficult it is to live for somebody else – especially when they don’t appreciate or acknowledge it) – and then by giving his life for us on the cross to wash away our sins.

In his talk President Monson does briefly talk about Jesus’ obedience. But he doesn’t point to Jesus as Paul did, as our Substitute who was obedient for us. Rather he refers to him as our example. “He gave to us a divine example of obedience by refusing to deviate from what He knew was right.” (p. 92) In this way, even when he does talk about Jesus, the burden to be worthy and to receive blessings is placed squarely on the shoulders of each individual.

What a relief it is to know that God now sees me as perfectly obedient through Jesus. This is especially comforting when I see how each and every sin is a terrible affront to God. Seeing that could easily lead to despair because I know that, no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop worrying, or thinking angry thoughts, or doing selfish things, or not casting all my cares on Jesus, or you fill in the blank. Each and every one of these sins that we often so lightly brush off merits nothing less than eternal damnation.

Thank God, therefore, that Jesus came and was perfectly obedient in my place, as my Substitute! Thank God that he has graciously clothed me in his robe of righteousness so that right now I am totally acceptable to God. Thank God that salvation and eternal life are his gifts to us and not something God tells us that we have to achieve ourselves. Thank God that Jesus came to live and die for me. To God be all glory and praise!

“God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man” (Joseph Smith, quoted in The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles, p. 325). One of Mormonism’s basic tenets is that God and human beings are basically the same. God is just more advanced in his progression. He was once a man. He still has a physical body. Because of that, he is limited to being in one place. He has a spouse (or spouses). We are his literal spirit children. We too can become gods. We differ from him – not in kind – but in degree.

In striking contrast the Bible describes God as differing from us, not in degree, but in kind. He is an entirely different Being from us. He never was a man. From all eternity he existed as the one and only God and that is how he will exist throughout eternity. He is so different from us that we can’t even fathom his triune nature: that he is one God consisting of three distinct persons. He is in a class solely by himself. He and he alone is God. The God of Mormonism is pretty small in comparison.

This has many consequences. The one that I would like to address here is how this impacts a Mormon’s view of sin. Most Mormons don’t see just how serious sin is or how serious the consequences of sinning are. They struggle to see the damning nature of sin – how one sin makes them guilty of all (James 2:10). Many are blind to how sin makes even their righteousness nothing but filthy rags (Is. 64:6).

One reason for that, I feel, stems from their view of God. When they sin it isn’t that serious, because God is like them – just greater in degree. It’s like punching your older brother. But when Christians sin, they realize how serious that is because God is so great – because he is different from us not just in degree but in kind. It’s more like punching the President of the United States. Same action as punching an older brother, but the consequences are so much more severe because the person is so different. As someone once said, “Sin is so serious because of who we sin against.”

That is why we can’t contribute anything to our salvation. If we try to add anything to Jesus’ works for us, all we accomplish is ruining his masterpiece of grace. Sin is that potent. Sin is that serious. It’s that serious because God is that great.

Before we can clearly see the Savior, we need to clearly see our sin. I encourage you to make clear to your LDS friends how serious sin really is. Show them how big God really is. Show them how his greatness emphasizes sin’s seriousness. Show them their sin and then show them the greatness of their Savior.

There are fewer passages that are more sobering than that. It vividly shows that talk is not cheap – that the saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is totally wrong. We all can think of examples of how just a few words destroyed a person. Words are powerful – and deadly.

What is even more sobering is that when, in the last paragraph James applies this to believers, he shows that, even after people have been brought to faith, they can’t completely control their tongues. The best we can do is an unnatural inconsistency – as we talk out of both sides of our mouths.

That is something that I can’t argue with. It’s not difficult to think of biting words I wished I would have swallowed; unloving criticism that I have gleefully offered, teasing that went too far. This passage does a good job of fulfilling its purpose. It vividly shows me my sin.

What a blessing it is that seeing my sinfulness doesn’t drive me to despair but rather drives me into the arms of my Savior. As I think about this passage, I am filled with awe with the realization that Jesus never once spoke a wrong word. Never once did his tongue cause him to sin. Just try to imagine that. As a boy playing with his brothers and sisters and the other kids in Nazareth, he never once said anything wrong. As a carpenter, never venting about a customer. As a teacher, always giving just the right criticism to his disciples. Even when he was abused, he didn’t strike back with wrong words.

And then! I realize that I get all the credit for that! This is all part of the perfect robe of his righteousness – the robe that he has freely given me – the robe that makes me perfect in God’s sight. But not only did he cover my sins with his righteousness, he washed them away with his blood! All those unkind words – all that biting criticism – they have been separated from me as far as the east is from the west. Because of Jesus, and only because of him, I am a perfect saint in God’s eyes. Because of Jesus, and only because of him, I am totally confident that I will spend all eternity with him and the Father as part of their eternal family. To him and to him alone be all praise and glory!